The B.1.1.529 or the Omicron virus, classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization, is said to be a highly mutated version of the original Sars-COV-2 virus with a considerable number of mutations found on the spike protein. The Centers for Disease and Control is yet to gather enough data to understand the risk it poses, though it has already stated that the virus transmissibility is likely to be higher than the Delta variant. Although the extent of illness caused by the Omicron strain is not known yet, the CDC is more worried about breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated people that could worsen the battle against the invisible enemy.
The CDC also emphasized that vaccines continue to be an effective approach in reducing transmission and preventing severe illnesses and risks of death posed by COVID-19, while recommending booster shots for those fully-vaccinated individuals above the age of 18. Furthermore, CDC clearly states that masks offer protection against all kinds of COVID-19 variants, especially in public indoor settings or areas with high risk of virus transmission, irrespective of vaccination status. The recommendation for masks actually makes sense if we look at this extensive compilation of studies of nearly 400,000 participants that revealed a significant reduction of COVID-19 incidence by nearly 53 percent when wearing protective masks.
The most popular filtering face respirators like CDC and NIOSH-approved N95 masks and FDA-approved KN95 masks, usually made of multiple layers of propylene, could offer up to 95 percent protection from airborne particulates as small as 0.3 microns. However, the exponential rise in demand for masks has also led to the rise of counterfeits that should be avoided at all costs.The CDC laid out some simple ways to identify counterfeit masks like checking for NIOSH approval numbers on the masks or packaging, forged logos or spelling mistakes, masks sold loose or with substandard packaging, and flashy ones that could affect the filtering efficiency due to the use of unapproved fabrics like sequin.
Where to Find Authentic Masks for the Highest Protection
If you have trouble identifying counterfeit masks, check out WellBefore. The store conducts third-party lab tests for every mask that they showcase. They offer manufacturing details, as well as NIOSH and patent details wherever applicable for the range of N95 and KN95 masks available on their platform. Furthermore, they strive for doorstep delivery within 48 hours from the time of purchase. You can even avail of discounts on bulk purchases.
Their due diligence and transparency reflects on the 4.8 rating from 12,000 product reviews along with 240,000 happy customers.